This document summarizes architectural styles in Europe between 1750-1914, including Neo-Classicism, Romanticism, and Historicism. It introduces Neo-Classicism as developing during the Enlightenment in opposition to Baroque and Rococo styles. Both experimental and Greek/Roman versions of Neo-Classicism emerged. Romanticism also incorporated Gothic styles. By the 19th century, pluralism in historical styles like Neo-Romanesque and Neo-Egyptian fell under the term Historicism. Examples of works representing these styles from France, Germany, and Britain are provided.

1. Neo-Classicism, Romanticism, Historicism –
1750’s to 1850’s and beyond

2. Europe in 1789

4. Europe in 1871-1914

5. Introduction
• The main principle of the age of “Aufklärung“/“Enlightenment“ during the 18th cent.
was the explanation of the “world“ by means of reason (and science) > rationalism.
• Architectural theories of the 18th century were influenced by the developments in
contemporary philosophy and natural sciences
• >>Development of a (Vitruvian) Neo-Classicism in opposition to the expressive late
Baroque and Rococo.
• Besides a (French) branch of “experimental” Neo-Classicism a Neo-Greek/Neo-
Roman Classicism emerged.
(supported by the study of ancient architecture through a young science:
archaeology)
• Neo-Classicism, however, and especially the Neo-Gothic, were also linked to
“Romanticism”, a trend which developed in opposition to the rationalism of the
“Enlightenment”.
• Finally, the developing pluralism of historical styles during the 19th cent.,
including: Neo-Romanesque, -Gothic, -Renaissance, -Baroque, -Egyptian
etc. is covered by the term «Historicism».

6. Neo-Classicism

7. Etienne Louis Boullee, Newton Cenotaph (1784)

8. Above: section of the Newton Cenotaph

9. Compare:
Mausoleum of Roman
Emperor Augustus,
beginning of 1st cent. AD

10. Ledoux, Saline Royal de Chaux, Arc-et-Senans, 1775-79

11. Ledoux, Saline Royal, Director’s building

14. As before

15. Jaques-Germain Sufflot,
Pantheon, Paris, 1755-92

16. Jean François Chalgrin,
Arc de Triomphe, Paris, 1806-36

17. Alexandre Vignon, Church of the Madeleine, Paris, 1807-42

18. Percier and Fontaine, Rue de Rivoli, Paris, after 1806

19. Typical blocks of flats, Paris, around 1835

20. «Pantheon», temple of Venus,
palace
F.W. von Erdmannsdorf, Wörlitz, principality of Anhalt-Dessau,
Germany, 1769-73

21. Carl Gotthard Langhans, Brandenburg Gate, Berlin, 1789

22. Berlin in 1688
Berlin (detail) in ca. 1905

23. Europe in 1871-1914

24. Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Neue Wache (New Guard), Berlin 1816-18

25. Schinkel, Altes Museum, Berlin, 1824-28

26. Schinkel, Schauspielhaus, Berlin 1812-21

27. Leo von Klenze, Propylaeum, Munich,1846-62

28. Carl Frederik Hansen and others, Palmaille, Hamburg-Altona, 1806 -

29. Johann Georg Wolff, building of the „Trierer literature organization“,
Trier, Germany, c. 1824-25

30. Lord Burlington,
Chiswick House,
1725-29
Example of „Palladianism“,
an English trend, prior to
Neo-Classicism
Compare:
Andrea Palladio,
Villa Rotonda,
Vicenza,
16th cent. AC

31. Compare: Andrea Palladio,
„Basilica“, Vicenza, 16th cent. AC
backside

32. Henry Hoare, Stourhead Park, Wiltshire, 1720s

33. James Stuart, (Doric) Temple of Theseus,
Hagley Hall, Worcestershire,1758

34. Introduction
• The main principle of the age of “Aufklärung“/“Enlightenment“ during the 18th cent.
was the explanation of the “world“ by means of reason (and science) > rationalism.
• Architectural theories of the 18th century were influenced by the developments in
contemporary philosophy and natural sciences
• >>Development of a (Vitruvian) Neo-Classicism in opposition to the expressive late
Baroque and Rococo.
• Besides a (French) branch of “experimental” Neo-Classicism a Neo-Greek/Neo-
Roman Classicism emerged.
(supported by the study of ancient architecture through a young science:
archaeology)
• Neo-Classicism, however, and especially the Neo-Gothic, were also linked to
“Romanticism”, a trend which developed in opposition to the rationalism of the
“Enlightenment”.
• Finally, the developing pluralism of historical styles during the 19th cent.,
including: Neo-Romanesque, -Gothic, -Renaissance, -Baroque, -Egyptian
etc. is covered by the term «Historicism».

35. W. Inwood, St. Pancras church,
London, 1819-21

36. detail

37. Erechtheion, Athen,
end of 5th cent. BC

38. John Nash, (Cumberland Terrace) Regent’s Park, London, 1826

39. Thomas Jefferson, Virginia State Capitol, Richmond, 1785

40. Thomas Jefferson, University of
Virginia, Rotunda, 1819-26
Thomas Jefferson,
Monticello,
Charlottesville, 1769-84

41. Compare:
Lord Burlington, Chiswick House,
1725-29
And:
Pantheon, Rome, ca. 117-134 AC

42. Neo-Classicism

43. Neo-Gothic

44. F.W. von Erdmannsdorf, Wörlitz,
principality of Anhalt-Dessau, Germany,1785-86

45. Heinrich Jussow, artificial ruin of a castle: the Löwenburg
in the park of palace Wilhelmshöhe, Kassel,1791-99

46. Karl-Friedrich Schinkel, Castle Stolzenfels, Germany, 1825-45

47. Etienne Louis Boullee, Newton Cenotaph (1784)

48. Etienne Louis Boullee, Newton Cenotaph (1784)

49. Etienne Louis Boullee, Newton Cenotaph (1784)

50. interior

51. Historicism

52. Jean-Louis-Charles Garnier,
Opera House, Paris, 1861-75

53. Baron Hausmann, urban renewal of Paris, 1853-70

54. Opera, Paris, and streets/blocks of flats of the Hausmann-renewal

55. Streets/blocks of flats,
Urban renewal of Paris
by Hausmann

56. Jean-Baptiste Godin, Familistere, Guise, 1858-83

57. Charles Fourier, Phalanstere, 1834
Central block

58. Gottfried Semper, Opera, Dresden, Germany, 1838-41

59. Dresden, old town, photo of 1940s

60. Above: section of the Newton Cenotaph

61. Above: section of the Newton Cenotaph

62. Above: section of the Newton Cenotaph

63. McKim, Mead&White, Pennsylvania Station, New York, 1904-10
Compare: Basilica of Constantine,
Rome, 4th cent. AC

64. Philip Charles Hardwick,
Euston Station, Grand Salon,
London,1846-49

65. I. Town and A. Davis, dining room, New York, ca. 1865

66. H.H. Richardson, Trinity Church, Boston, 1872-77

67. Richard Morris Hunt, Dining room, Rhode house, Newport, 1895